Community reacts to Vigil slaying

About 150 people gathered Thursday night at the First Baptist Church to pray for the Vigil family, said pastor David England.

“It was spontaneous. People wanted to come together and pray for the kids and the family and to pray for healing,” England said.

The Vigil family was torn apart on Wednesday night, when Lucy Vigil was found slain and her husband, Eppie Vigil, was charged Thursday with murder, according to court documents. On Wednesday night when police found Lucy Vigil, the couple’s children, Lisa, 16, and Leon 13, were in the front yard of the residence, court document stated.

England said he had known the couple for several years.

“It’s a shock and heartbreaking,” England said.

The couple were members of the church for about the past three years, England said.

“I’ve been friends with them and done things with them,” England said.

At the service, “we prayed for the kids … and we prayed for our community.”

Some classmates of Leon’s who are in Tucumcari Middle School and classmates of Lisa’s who are at Tucumcari High School also attended, England said.

At a time like this, England said it’s important for parents to let their children know that they are loved and that they are secure.
“You need to let them talk and express their emotions and they need time to process it,” England said.

On Thursday, at the Tucumcari middle and high schools counselors from the Mental Health Resources Center in Clovis were present to visit with the students, a school official said.

England said a fund has been established for the family, especially the children’s immediate needs, at Wells Fargo Bank and Tucumcari Federal Savings and Loan Association.

England said some of the funds could go for funeral services for Lucy Vigil.

No arrangements regarding funeral services have been announced at this time.

Following a homicide, it is required that an autopsy be performed by the state’s Office of Medical Investigator and Lucy Vigil’s body was sent to OMI’s office in Albuquerque.